FUEL CELL

| Main | Electrolyzer | Storage Tank | Fuel Cell |
| Stationary Applications | Mobile Application | Portable Application |

The fuel cell was invented over 150 years ago (1839) by Sir William Robert Grove and Christian Friedrich Schoenbein.

The way a fuel cell works is basically the opposite of the principle of an electrolysis cell.
In a fuel cell, chemical energy from hydrogen and oxygen (or air) is directly converted to electrical energy, i.e. without a combustion process. All fuel cells essentially consist of two electrodes (cathode and anode) and an electrolyte (medium for transporting the ions), which separates the two electrodes from each other.

Fuel cells are usually classified by the type of electrolyte used. They may differ in other traits such as service temperature, efficiency and field of application.

Types of fuel cell are: AFC ( Alkaline Fuel Cell ), ( PEMFC ) Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, DMFC ( Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ), PAFC ( Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell ), MCFC ( Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ), SOFC ( Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ).

PEM fuel cells function like PEM electrolyzers, using a thin, proton-conducting polymer membrane as an electrolyte.

Both sides of the membrane are coated with a layer of catalyst material, which partially differs from that of the electrolyzer.

The catalytic effects of the electrode (e.g. platinum) cause the hydrogen gas at the anode to break down into protons and electrons even at room temperature. The H+ ions (protons) traverse the proton-conducting Membrane to get to the cathode side. When the outer circuit is closed, the electrons travel to the cathode, thereby doing electrical work. As a result, water is produced at the cathode ( see diagram ).

Individual fuel cells, assembled into a unit and connected with each other in series, result in a "stack" of cells.

The output of the stacks can be varied as desired by adjusting the number of individual cells.

Applications for fuel cells can be broken down into 3 major areas, where different types are required, depending on the application. These areas are: stationary, mobile or portable applications.